New tests for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and related conditions
Official title: New biomarkers for early Alzheimer's diagnosis and tauopathy differentiation
Funded at North Carolina Central University · NIH-11031411 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new, less invasive ways to diagnose Alzheimer's disease by checking for specific markers in your blood and spinal fluid, and it aims to help people get a more accurate diagnosis early on, so you can be part of testing these new methods!
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina Central University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $150,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AG085058-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031411 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals aged 65 and older who may be experiencing early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.
✕Less likely to help
Patients under the age of 65 or those without cognitive impairment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new, minimally invasive tests to diagnose Alzheimer's disease (AD) and differentiate it from other tauopathies. By identifying specific biomarkers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid, the project aims to improve the accuracy of early AD diagnosis and monitor disease progression. The approach involves screening for phosphorylated tau proteins that can indicate the presence of AD, even in its early stages. Patients will be involved in testing these biomarkers to validate their effectiveness compared to existing diagnostic methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease, allowing for timely interventions and better management of the condition.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in developing biomarkers for Alzheimer's diagnosis, but this specific approach using newly identified phosphorylated tau proteins is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina Central University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Ling — North Carolina Central University
- Study coordinator: Wu, Ling
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.